Civilian is the debut album by Boy Kill Boy. It was released on 22 May 2006 and reached number 16 in the UK Album Chart. Background and production Vocalist and guitarist Chris Peck spent three years playing in a post-Britpop band with his schoolfriend drummer Shaz Mahmood. After a few months of downtime, the pair formed Boy Kill Boy in 2004. The band, now with the addition of keyboardist Pete Carr, added bassist Kevin Chase to the line-up after meeting him at a house party. A month afterwards, the band were due to support another band in London; however, the show was cancelled, and was followed-up by another support slot, this time for Hard-Fi, the week after. "Suzie", backed with "Last of the Great", was released as a single on 16 May 2005, through Fierce Panda Records. Shortly after this, the band signed to Mercury Records, and toured throughout the rest of the year. "Civil Sin" was released as a single on 19 September 2005. Civilian was recorded Sawmills Studios with producer John Cornfield, who later mixed the recordings at Landsdowne Recording Studios. Composition Musically, the sound of Civilian has been described as dance-punk, indie rock, and synth-rock, with influences from new wave, drawing comparison to the Killers, and Interpol. The opening punk rock track, "Back Again", sets the pace of the album, with an up-tempo guitar riff and synthesizers, and is followed by the synth-pop song "On and On". "Suzie" recalled "Seaside" (2004) by the Ordinary Boys, and is followed by the indie pop song "Six Minutes". "Ivy Parker" is a ballad that was reminiscent of "All These Things That I've Done" (2004) by the Killers. The Smiths-indebted "Civil Sin" has a chorus section in the style of Good Mourning (2003)-era Alkaline Trio, and the goth punk of My Chemical Romance. "Friday – Friday" details violence in a small town, and features a pseudo-ska drum pattern. "Shoot Me Down" is a ballad with a sparse arrangement, done in the vein of Morrissey and Simple Minds; the album ends with the folk-esque "Exit". Release "Back Again" was released as a single on 13 February 2006; the CD version included "Cheaper". Two versions were released on vinyl: The first included "Number One", while the second featured "In Disgrace". In March 2006, the band performed at the entertainment conference South by Southwest in the United States. Civilian was released on 22 May